One of nature's most well-kept secrets is the ocean's hadal zone, a realm of darkness that harbors an unexpected predator in its most extreme depths.



This zone includes the deepest part of the ocean. It's marked by total darkness and crushing pressures - a place where you would not expect to find life.



Yet astonishingly, the hadal zone is home to a myriad of unique creatures that hold clues to understanding life's evolution in some of Earth's harshest habitats.



Now, we are shining the spotlight on a new addition to this intriguing underwater neighborhood - a predatory crustacean identified as Dulcibella camanchaca.



This creature is the first predatory amphipod to be discovered in these extreme environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fast-swimming-predator-in-the-deep-ocean">A fast-swimming predator in the deep ocean</h2>



The experts behind this discovery are scientists from the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> and the<a href="https://www.imo-chile.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía</a> at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile.



"Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after 'darkness' in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region, to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates," explained study co-lead author Dr. Johanna Weston.



Spanning almost 4 centimeters, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustacean</a> deploys specialized raptorial appendages to catch and feed on smaller <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-prey-on-jellyfish-to-survive-the-polar-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphipod</a> species lurking in the food-scarce territory of the Atacama Trench.



The trench, a deep scar in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, reaches staggering depths of more than 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) off the northern Chilean coast and has long piqued scientific interest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-life-in-a-harsh-environment">Unique life in a harsh environment</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shocking-deepest-parts-of-the-ocean-polluted-with-pcb-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atacama Trench</a>, which lies far beneath the nutrient-rich surface waters and is geographically distant from other hadal environments, supports a distinctive community of native species. This new crustacean is just one of many unique species that cope with life at great depths.



"Most excitingly, the DNA and morphology data pointed to this species being a new genus too, emphasizing the Atacama Trench as an endemic hotspot," said Dr. Weston.



The fascinating discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca was part of the 2023 Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System Expedition aboard the R/V Abate Molina.



The team collected four Dulcibella camanchaca individuals at an impressive depth of 7,902 meters (26,000 feet) using a lander vehicle - an untethered platform that transports scientific equipment, including baited traps, to and from the ocean floor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-collaborative-and-integrative-approach">A collaborative and integrative approach</h2>



Upon returning to the ship, the captured amphipods were preserved in freezing conditions before undergoing comprehensive morphological and genetic analyses at the Universidad de Concepción.



Dr. Carolina González, co-lead author of the study who tackled the sample collection and DNA analysis, noted that the team's collaborative effort and integrative approach confirmed that Dulcibella camanchaca was indeed a new species.



"The new species highlights ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-time-machine-reveals-a-century-of-biological-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> discoveries in the Atacama Trench. This finding underlines the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration, particularly in Chile's front yard. More discoveries are expected as we continue to study the Atacama Trench," said Dr. González.



With each new stride in exploration technology, we can look forward to uncovering more species - each hinting at the unique evolutionary pressures and adaptions in the deep ocean.



The findings will open up new avenues to comprehend these deep-ocean ecosystems better and protect them from emerging threats like pollution and climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predators-of-the-deep-ocean-nbsp">Predators of the deep ocean&nbsp;</h2>



Dulcibella camanchaca is just one example of the unique predators that thrive in the hadal zone, but it raises broader questions about how life adapts to such extreme environments.



Predators in these depths, like Dulcibella, rely on highly specialized features to hunt and survive. For instance, their enhanced sensory systems allow them to detect subtle movements in complete darkness, while their powerful appendages make quick work of capturing prey in a world where every meal counts.



These adaptations not only highlight the resilience of the deep-sea organisms, but also provide critical insights into evolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-rule-of-biology-instability-key-to-evolution-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biology</a>.



Understanding how these deep-sea predators function can shed light on the survival strategies of life forms in Earth's most inhospitable habitats, offering clues about how organisms might adapt to extreme conditions on other planets or moons. 



As researchers continue to explore the Atacama Trench and other ecosystems in the deep ocean, they are likely to uncover more fascinating predators that will expand our knowledge of the intricate food webs operating miles beneath the surface.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Systematics and Biodiversity</a>.



Image Credit: Johanna Weston, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution



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New predator found in one of the deepest parts of the ocean

One of nature's most well-kept secrets is the ocean's hadal zone, a realm of darkness that harbors an unexpected predator in its most extreme depths. This zone includes the deepest part of the ocean. It's marked by total darkness and crushing pressures - a place where you would not expect to find life. Yet astonishingly, the hadal zone is home to a myriad of unique creatures that hold clues to understanding life's evolution in some of Earth's harshest habitats. Now, we are shining the spotlight on a...

The cheetah, which is the fastest land animal in the world, is now at high risk of extinction. Known for its golden coat with black spots and amazing speed, this majestic creature is quickly vanishing from our planet.

According to an investigation led by the <a href="http://www.zsl.org">Zoological Society of London (ZSL)</a> and the <a href="http://www.wcs.org">Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)</a>, only 7100 cheetahs remain globally.

As one of the world’s most wide-ranging carnivores, the majority of cheetahs live in unrestricted and unprotected areas. This leaves them much more vulnerable to human pressure.

The WCS warned recently that the cheetah population has declined by over 85% in Zimbabwe and fewer than 50 remain in Iran. According to previous estimates, there were 100,000 cheetahs at the beginning of the 20th century.

“The cheetah is sprinting towards the edge of extinction and could soon be lost forever unless urgent, landscape-wide conservation action is taken,” ZSL said in a statement.

The authors of the study led by the ZSL and the WCS, including lead author Dr. Sarah Durant, are urging for the cheetah to be uplisted from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. When wild animals are classified as ‘Endangered,’ they usually get more international attention and support.

"This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of cheetah status to date. Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked,” explained Project Leader for the Rangewide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog Dr. Sarah Durant. “Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought."

Major threats to the cheetah population including human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, overhunting, and illegal trafficking of live cats have been largely overlooked.

“The recent decisions made at the CITES CoP17 meeting in Johannesburg represent a significant breakthrough particularly in terms of stemming the illegal flow of live cats trafficked out of the Horn of Africa region. However, concerted action is needed to reverse ongoing declines in the face of accelerating land use changes across the continent," Durant stated.

Scientists are now urging for the creation and adoption of a new cheetah conservation approach that transcends national borders and utilizes existing regional conservation strategies.

Panthera's Cheetah Program Director Dr. Kim Young-Overton stated, “The take-away from this pinnacle study is that securing protected areas alone is not enough. We must think bigger, conserving across the mosaic of protected and unprotected landscapes that these far-ranging cats inhabit, if we are to avert the otherwise certain loss of the cheetah forever."

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Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

The cheetah is quickly vanishing from our planet

The cheetah, which is the fastest land animal in the...

After 10 years of research, scientists from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> and <a href="http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/">Rothamsted Research</a> have measured the insect migration patterns of mass groups of flying insects in southern England, concluding that 3.5 trillion migrate annually.

Insects that flew over 150 meters from the ground level were the primary focus of this study. Scientists used special radar techniques for large insects that were 10mg and over, and netting samples for the smaller scale insects.

They discovered that huge numbers of flying insects migrate north during the spring time and move south during the autumn weather. The net movements to the north of large flying insects approximately cancelled out the net movements to the south.

According to Dr Jason Chapman, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, “If the densities observed over southern UK are extrapolated to the airspace above all continental landmasses, high-altitude insect migration represents the most important annual animal movement in ecosystems on land, comparable to the most significant oceanic migrations.”

This is the first study to thoroughly investigate the migration patterns of nocturnal and diurnal species of agricultural pests. Past research has shown that the migration route of flying insects moves from the UK over the English Channel and North Sea.

According to Dr. Gao Hu, a visiting scholar from Nanjing Agricultural University, China and leader of the radar data analysis, “Many of the insects we studied provide important ecological services which are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, such as pollination, predation of crop pests and providing food for insectivorous birds and bats.”

Co-writer Dr Ka S (Jason) Lim, of the Radar Entomology Unit of the AgroEcology Department at Rothamsted Research, stated that these insects work as indicators of the global environmental condition.

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Credit: Earth.com author Hannah Parker

Insect migration is the most important animal movement on Earth

After 10 years of research, scientists from the University of...

A new study found that reindeer might play an integral part in slowing down climate change. Published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, Dr. Mariska te Beest of <a href="http://www.umu.se/english">Umeå University</a> and her team of researchers found that through grazing, reindeer increase the amount of solar energy reflected by the earth back into space.

In this article, the researchers refer to this reflection of solar energy by the earth as “surface albedo.” When reindeer graze, and thus reduce the height and abundance of shrubs on the Artic tundra, they increase the surface albedo. Dr. te Beest explains: “Our theory was that heavy grazing by reindeer increases summer albedo through a reduction in shrub height, abundance, and leaf area index.”

Their study combined land surface computer modeling with actual measurements of surface albedo and vegetation characteristics taken in the field. The field measurements were done in a region of Norway that contained four topographically-defined vegetation types, which varied in shrub height and abundance.

The team worked during the summer season, estimating reindeer activity by using vegetation-trampling indicators and collecting dung. They made field measurements of the abundance of vegetation, the leaf area index, as well as soil moisture and temperature levels. Researchers also measured surface albedo levels in the studied areas.

Dr. te Beest and her team found that through decreasing shrub abundance, high densities of reindeer can completely change Artic tundra vegetation. These changes in abundance, canopy height, and amount of live vegetation led to a substantial increase in surface albedo throughout the growing season.

By using computer modeling, the researchers were able to determine that this increase in albedo would result in a decrease in net radiation, as well as latent and sensible heat fluxes. This indicates that heavily grazed sites are actually absorbing less radiation.

Dr. te Beest believes their findings can have a significant impact on the climate warming conversation, saying “Our results show that reindeer have a potential cooling effect on climate, by changing the summer albedo. Although the estimated differences might appear small, they are large enough to have consequences for the regional energy balance.”

Given that most of the Artic tundra is grazed by either wild or domesticated reindeer, this finding could be very important.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Reindeer might play an integral role in slowing down climate change

A new study found that reindeer might play an integral...

Reindeer antlers are notoriously tough! Scientists have long wondered how they can resist breaking during what are often violent territorial fights.

Now, scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have discovered the secret behind the toughness.

The team looked at the reindeer antlers structure at the 'nano-level', which is incredibly small, almost one thousandth of the thickness of a hair strand, and were able to identify the mechanisms at work, using state-of-the-art computer modelling and x-ray techniques.

First author Paolino De Falco from QMUL's School of Engineering and Materials Science said: "The fibrils that make up the reindeer antler are staggered rather than in line with each other. This allows them to absorb the energy from the impact of a clash during a fight."

The research, published today in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science &amp; Engineering, provides new insights and fills a previous gap in the area of structural modelling of bone. It also opens up possibilities for the creation of a new generation of materials that can resist damage.

Co-author Dr Ettore Barbieri, also from QMUL's School of Engineering and Materials Science, said: "Our next step is to create a 3D printed model with fibres arranged in staggered configuration and linked by an elastic interface.

The aim is to prove that additive manufacturing - where a prototype can be created a layer at a time - can be used to create damage resistant composite material."

--

Credit: Earth.com Staff/<a href="http://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Queen Mary University of London</a>

What makes reindeer antlers unbreakable?

Reindeer antlers are notoriously tough! Scientists have long wondered how...

Scientists from <a href="http://www.orst.edu">Oregon State University</a> reported in a new study that advancements in whale tagging technology have allowed them to track whale behavior in unprecedented detail.

A new sophisticated “Advanced Dive Behavior,” or ADB, tag has allowed researchers to record underwater data every second for hours, days and weeks at a time. This has expanded scientists’ knowledge of whale ecology in areas deep within the ocean and over thousands of miles of travel. The tags even give information on the whale’s interaction with their prey.

The research done on ADB whale tagging technology from 2007-2015 has been supported by the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Navy, and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers. Bruce Mate, professor and director of OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, reports, “The ADB tag is a pretty revolutionary breakthrough… This provides us a broad picture of whale behavior and ecology that we’ve never had before.”

According to researchers, this new form of whale tagging expands observations on whale feeding and behavior by several orders of magnitude. It shows when, where, and how they feed, as well as how they are affected by passing ships and water temperatures.

The findings, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, showed sperm whales diving more than 1000 meters to the sea floor and submerging for up to 75 minutes. They also reported baleen whales lunging after their food, as the ADB tags can sense whale movement and body orientation as well as water depth, temperature, and light levels.

These tags can also provide a basis to better understand how whales react to undersea noises such as sonar and seismic exploration. Daniel Palacios, a co-author on the study, says, “By using this technology on three different species, we’ve seen the full range of behavior that is specific to each species.” These three species are sperm, blue, and fin whales.

Earlier tagging technology was unable to return data from the deep sea for much longer than a day. The new ADB tags are able to constantly acquire data for up to seven weeks at a time. They then detach from the whale and float up to the surface, allowing scientists to retrieve these tags and download the new data.

Ladd Irvine, the corresponding author on the study, believes that by using these tags the researchers can gather data at a much lower cost with far less manpower, saying, “This tag type yields amazing results. It’s going to significantly expand what we can accomplish, learning both about whale ecology and the ocean itself.”

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

New whale tagging technology has opened a window into the life of whales

Scientists from Oregon State University reported in a new study...

A team of researchers  from George Washington University has published a paper in Current Biology that details their discovery of a new species of dinosaur, which could explain why birds have beaks but no teeth. The dinosaur, Limusaurus inextricabilis, was discovered in the Xinjiang province of China. The team studied 19 skeletons that were found in an ancient “death pit,” where they had become stuck in mud and were unable to escape.

The dinosaurs ranged in age from babies to adults, exhibiting a pattern of tooth loss over time. This age range was important to the researchers for two reasons, as Dr. James Clark outlines, “First, it’s very rare to find a growth series from baby to adult dinosaurs. Second, this unusually dramatic change in anatomy suggests there was a big shift in Limusaurus inextricabilis diet from adolescence to adulthood.”

The baby skeleton had small, sharp teeth, while the adult skeletons had no teeth at all and did not appear to grow another set as adults. This may indicate that the young Limusaurus were carnivores or omnivores, while the adults were herbivores. Generally, a change in tooth structure or loss of teeth is indicative of a diet change as well. The chemical makeup of the dinosaurs’ bones also supports the team’s theory of a diet change between babies and adults.

Limusaurus is a part of the theropod group of dinosaurs, which are the evolutionary ancestors of birds. Scientists believe that these fossils may help show how theropods such as birds lost their teeth, initially going through anatomical changes during development from infancy to adulthood.

Josef Stiegler, a co-author on the paper, reiterates the importance of these fossil findings, “For most dinosaur species we have few specimens and a very incomplete understanding of their developmental biology. The large sample size of Limusaurus allowed us to use several lines of evidence including the morphology, microstructure, and stable isotopic composition of the fossil bones to understand development and dietary changes in this animal.”

[caption id="attachment_128002" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="size-full wp-image-128002" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Limusaurus-inextricabilis-GWU.jpg" alt="Limusaurus inextricabilis fossil. Credit: GWU" width="750" height="301" /> Limusaurus inextricabilis fossil. Credit: GWU[/caption]

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz/<a href="http://www.gwu.edu">George Washington University</a>

Limusaurus inextricabilis: Strange new dinosaur species lost their teeth as adults

A team of researchers  from George Washington University has published...

A study published in Current Biology finds that baby reef fish may have an internal magnetic ‘compass” that can direct them home at night when there is no sun or stars to guide them.

Professor Mike Kingsford of <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au/">James Cook University</a> collaborated with colleagues in Germany to discover how baby Cardinal fish are able to find their home reef in the darkness of night. During this study, the researchers set up an isolated magnetic field that they could manipulate in order to observe how the fish reacted.

Professor Kingsford noted, “Normally, baby reef fish orientated to the southeast, but when we altered the magnetic field clockwise by 120 degrees, there was a significant change in the direction the fish swam. They all turned further west, thinking they were still on track to their destination.”

Their results showed that fish larvae can use a magnetic sense to point them in the direction of home. Previous research done by this team has shown that these fish begin a “homing process” when they get closer to their target, relying on odor, sounds, and landmarks to find their home reef.

Other studies have shown that birds, marine mammals, sharks, and boney fish have a similar internal compass. However, this most recent study is the first clear indication that baby reef fish use magnetic senses to orient themselves at night.

Reef fish hatch from eggs into larvae and then disperse for days to months out in the ocean before finding another reef or returning home. It is believed that once they find a reef, they generally stay there for the rest of their lives.

Professor Kingsford elaborated, “The study tells us these baby fish actually have brains. They know where they are going and are strong swimmers. As a result, they have some control over the reef they end up on. It’s not just about being led by the currents.”

He thinks that this knowledge can be used further down the road to develop more accurate models of where fish larvae go, which can be used determine the best method for protecting and maintaining sustainable fish stocks.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Baby reef fish use an internal magnetic compass to find their way home

A study published in Current Biology finds that baby reef...

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.calacademy.org/">California Academy of Sciences</a> identified 133 new species this year. The findings include ants, beetles, fish, plants, and even a new shark.

The team explored five continents and three oceans. More than 12 Academy scientists teamed up with several dozen international collaborators to describe their discovery.

The Academy’s Chief of Science Dr. Shannon Bennett says, “"Biodiversity scientists estimate that we have discovered less than 10% of the species on our planet.”

By exploring uncharted territory, researchers aim not only to discover new species but also to uncover the impact these species may have on modern science and technology.

“Species live together in rich networks that thrive on complexity whether we can see it or not. Even the tiniest organism can be beautiful and important," says Bennett.

The Academy expedition found a new species of groppo 487 feet under water. This distinctive fish species is pink and yellow. The significance of unearthing the brilliantly-colored fish is that it is the deepest discovery ever made by human hands.

"This groppo is the most beautiful fish I've ever seen," says Rocha, a co-leader of the Academy's mission. "But beyond its looks, it's a reminder that we know very little about the mysterious half-lit reefs we call the twilight zone. We need to understand the life inside these largely-unexplored deeper reefs because they may help us understand how the oceans respond to great change."

Other discoveries made by the Academy scientists include “Dracula ants,” armored lizards, and gray-haired bee flies. A new bird virus was also identified this year that solved the decade-long mystery of wild birds with deformed beaks.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Researchers discover 133 new species of plants and animals

Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences identified 133 new...

A new study published in the scientific journal Biology Letters reports that promiscuous female butterflies and moths may be able to choose which male fertilizes their eggs. Researchers Dr. Graziella Iossa and Dr. Paul Eady from the <a href="http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/">University of Lincoln</a> examined the eggs of 56 species from different families of butterflies and moths. Their findings show that the eggs of some species vary to give females control over the paternity of their offspring.

In most insects, sperm fertilizes the egg through small openings in the outer surface of the eggs which allow sperm to enter. These openings are called micropyles, and there is considerable variation in the location, arrangement, and number of micropyles within and between insect species.

In the group of female butterflies and moths that the researchers studied, they found that sperm from several different males can enter the egg via multiple micropyles, but only one ends up fusing with the female pronucleus. They believe that this process allows for the possibility of mate choice within an egg cell. Dr. Iossa states that they “therefore concluded that the presence of multiple micropyles increases the opportunity for post-copulatory choice about which sperm fertilizes the egg.”

Both researchers believe this is the first study to show that micropylar variation is driven by female promiscuity. Therefore, the more micropyles the egg has, the more choice the butterfly or moth has over which male fertilizes their offspring.

It is also possible that an increased number of micropyles in the surface of an egg is an advantageous anatomical design for when mating competition is high and sperm numbers are limited.

This unique study furthers our understanding of the relationship between female mating patterns and the number of micropyles in her eggs, and gives us a deeper look into female choice in butterfly and moth mating habits.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Promiscuous female butterflies can control which male fertilizes their eggs

A new study published in the scientific journal Biology Letters...

A team of researchers from around the world, led by ecologist Dr. Marcell Peters, conducted a four-year long study on Mount Kilimanjaro to answer one of science’s most debated questions…why is there greater species diversity in the tropics than in Arctic regions?

For years, the contrast in species diversity between Earth’s Artic regions and tropical latitudes has been widely discussed. Tropical regions tend to have a great variety of plant and animal species, while the artic regions have moderate to low diversity. Professor Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter from the <a href="https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/ueber/university/">University of Würzburg</a> says that the cause of this uneven distribution “has intrigued ecologists for quite some time… Already about ten years ago, the publishers of Science declared that to be one of the 25 most important questions of science to be answered yet.”

This question has been subject to controversy. One common hypothesis was that the primary productivity of a habitat is the key variable in the number of species living there. Primary productivity refers to the rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic or chemosynthetic autotrophs into organic substances. Another hypothesis is that the rate of evolution and speciation is dependent upon temperature; the warmer the climate is, the more species diversity is present.

All of these hypotheses had only been examined through focusing on selected groups of species. The variety of results was never conclusive enough to point to one hypothesis. That is until Dr. Peters and his research unit “FOR1246” published their results in the journal Nature Communications.

Their unique study tackled the terrain of Mount Kilimanjaro, which has one of the Earth’s largest climatic gradients. This allowed the researchers to examine many plant and animals groups in parallel, which had yet to be done. Overall, the 38 scientists examined eight groups of plants and 17 groups of animals, covering an area that stretched from the savannahs at the base of the mountain to the habitats at an altitude above 4,500 meters, where plants could barely survive.

The data across all groups were collected over the same areas along the same period of time. This allowed the scientists to analyze the biodiversity of not only each individual group, but entire communities as well.

At its conclusion, the study revealed that species diversity within communities is mainly determined by temperature. The researchers found that the warmer the temperature, the greater the diversity of plants and animals. Dr. Peters said, “The more groups of animals and plants you investigate in parallel, the greater the significance of temperature for explaining biodiversity, whereas the importance of all other variables decreases accordingly.”

The researchers believe this study reveals significant evidence supporting the hypothesis that temperature is the most important factor for distribution patterns of species. It’s possible that their four years of work may have just answered one of sciences most intriguing questions.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Why is species diversity greater in the tropics at the poles?

A team of researchers from around the world, led by...

It's Colo's birthday! The first gorilla ever born in captivity is turning 60. Colo, a resident of the <a href="https://www.columbuszoo.org/">Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</a>, is our nation’s oldest. Colo's birthday celebration was broadcast on Thursday in a live stream event.

Despite recent surgery to remove a malignant tumor, doctors report Colo is doing well. She is doing so well, in fact, that she has outlived the average life expectancy of captive gorillas by over 20 years.

Colo has a large family that includes 3 children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Colo’s endurance is a testament to the quality of healthcare and nutrition provided to zoo animals.

“Colo just epitomizes the advances that zoos have made, going all the way back to her birth at Columbus,” said Dr. Tom Meehan of Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo.

Colo is one of a growing number of elderly zoo animals throughout the country. Ozzie, the oldest known male gorilla, is 55 years old and lives in the Atlanta Zoo. Now that it is more common for these animals to live longer, veterinarians are learning more about how to care for them as they age.

“Geriatrics is probably one of our most common medical challenges that we face in a zoo situation,” said Dr. Keith Hinshaw of the Philadelphia Zoo. “So pretty much anything that you could imagine would happen with an older person is going to happen eventually with any animal.”

In some cases, human medicine is being adapted to treat issues such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. A 45-year-old orangutan at the Toledo Zoo takes human heart medicines, pain medications, and Metamucil. Methods being used to treat various ailments include osteoarthritis, massage therapy, and acupuncture.
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Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Colo's birthday: First gorilla born in human care turns 60

It's Colo's birthday! The first gorilla ever born in captivity...

A recently discovered tropical fish species,  Tosanoides obama, has been named after President Barack Obama.

Scientists from the <a href="http://www.bishopmuseum.org">Bishop Museum</a>, the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a> and the <a href="http://www.marineexploration.org">Association for Marine Exploration</a> published the official description of the coral reef fish today.

The fish, given the scientific name Tosanoides obama, is named in honor of the president due to his work in expanding the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Hawaiian marine park where the fish was discovered.

"We decided to name this fish after President Obama to recognize his efforts to protect and preserve the natural environment, including the expansion of Papahānaumokuākea," said Richard Pyle, Bishop Museum scientist and lead author of the study.

Obama expanded the marine park in August at the requests of Hawaiian scientists, conservationists and Sen. Brian Schatz. Papahānaumokuākea is the largest protected marine area on the planet, at 582,578 square miles.

Members of NOAA discovered and collected the fish in Papahānaumokuākea during a dive at Kure Atoll, the highest latitude coral atoll in the world.

The fish, a kind of basslet, is small, pink and yellow. The males’ dorsal fins have a spot near the tail with blue edges and a red and yellow striped center, which inspired the name, Pyle said.

“The spot on the males is reminiscent of President Obama's campaign logo," he said. "It seemed especially appropriate for a fish named in honor of the president."

The fish is extra special because it is endemic to Papahānaumokuākea, meaning it can’t be found anywhere else on Earth, said NOAA scientist Randall Kosaki,

The Tosanoides genus holds two other species in the tropical northwestern Pacific Ocean. Basslets are often found in coral reefs, and are also popular in saltwater aquariums.

Obama first saw the fish named after him in September when ocean explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle gave him a photograph. The exchange can be seen on an upcoming National Geographic special “Sea of Hope,” set to air Jan. 15, 2017.

The announcement of the Tosanoides obama follows the naming of the Prognathodes basabei, a new species of butterflyfish, which occurred earlier this year.

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Credit: Earth.com author Laura Porecca

Tosanoides obama : New fish species named after President Barack Obama

A recently discovered tropical fish species,  Tosanoides obama, has been...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...